China has introduced a tougher safety benchmark for electric vehicle power batteries under the China EV battery rule, placing battery fire and explosion prevention into mandatory national requirements for the first time. The move is part of a wider standards push that finalised and updated 294 national standards across 13 key sectors, according to information released by the State Administration for Market Regulation and reported by CCTV.
The China EV battery rule is tied to a broader government standards action plan designed to drive industrial upgrades and refresh consumer goods. In practice, the goal is to use regulation to raise product quality, improve efficiency, and accelerate safer, cleaner technologies across the economy.
China EV battery rule is part of a wider national standards package
Officials say the newly approved standards focus on three main areas. First, they upgrade energy efficiency and emissions requirements. Second, they strengthen product quality and safety. Third, they expand rules for recycling and circular use.
On energy and emissions, authorities formulated and revised standards for sectors such as coal-fired power, steel, and building materials. In total, 113 national standards were approved and released. These include updated energy consumption limits aimed at speeding up the phase-out of outdated capacity. In addition, the standards tighten efficiency requirements for widely used industrial equipment such as boilers, electric motors, and transformers.
China EV battery rule raises the bar for vehicle safety
A separate set of 115 national standards targets industries closely linked to everyday consumer demand, including automobiles, home appliances, home furnishings, and emerging products. Within this group, the China EV battery rule stands out.
Under the updated EV power-battery standard, batteries must not catch fire or explode. This requirement is now defined as a mandatory national technical benchmark. That shift signals a stricter approach to safety in the fast-growing new energy vehicle market.
Liu Hongsheng, a director in the standards division at the market regulator, described the battery safety update as a major step forward. He said it will push automakers to improve battery structural design and thermal management, which should raise overall safety performance for new energy vehicles.
China EV battery timeline and transition approach
The updated standard is identified as GB 38031-2025. It is expected to take effect on July 1, 2026. From that point, new type approvals would need to meet the updated safety requirements. Vehicles approved under older standards may follow transition arrangements that commonly extend to July 1, 2027.
China EV battery rule supports recycling and circular economy standards
Beyond safety and efficiency, the package also includes 66 national standards focused on recycling and circular utilisation. These cover processes such as recycling, dismantling, and regeneration across several product categories. They include home appliances, furniture, electronics, photovoltaic equipment, wind power equipment, and power batteries.
Overall, the China EV battery rule signals a firm shift toward stricter EV safety expectations while aligning battery development with broader goals on efficiency, quality, and end-of-life recycling.
